McAdams Rye Whisky

And at NT$160 for a 200ml bottle, I figured McAdams was worth a gander.

McAdams is like a watered down version of Jameson, which is on the light side to begin with.

This whiskey is unusual in that it is devoid of tasting notes.

If the Buddha were reincarnated as a boozehound he might enjoy this dram as it is a journey into emptiness.

Taking a sip of this whisky is a bit like walking down an elevator shaft.

You get some first-aid-kit iodine on the nostrils …… then boom ….. the rug is cut out from under you.

Before you smash into the pavement below, you’re hit with an ever so slight finish that quickly fades into oblivion.

Call me crazy, but if you put your ear to the glencairn glass, you might even hear an apology from this timid dram.

The low cost and absence of flavor make this a prime candidate for simple mixed drinks.

But … eh …. not so great for sipping.

McAdams Rye Whisky Tasting Notes

Nose: Band-aids, Caramel, Dried green apple, an old man’s lawnPalate: Remarkably empty with a dash of white pepper and some wheat.Finish: Short and docile finish with an ultra-mild sting (as potent as watered-down mouthwash)

73/100

PS: After a bit more research, we’ve discovered that this incarnation of McAdams is actually bottled in Taiwan and sold EXCLUSIVELY in the Taiwanese market. Can’t say I’m all that surprised, but I do feel a tad hoodwinked by the marketing.

One impostor begets another, so it seems fitting that as retribution ANYONE involved in the production or distribution of McAdams MUST watch this video below in its entirety.

Tap 357 Canadian Maple Rye Whisky Review

Distillery: Tap 357
Expression: Tap 357 Canadian Maple Rye Whisky
Category: Blended whisky (A mix of 3, 5, and 7 year old whiskies (hence the name 357)Region: Western CanadaABV: 40.5%
Aside from politeness and the act of jerseying some dickhead and smashing him in the face there are few things more Canadian than rye whisky and maple syrup.

I’ll give you 357 Taps in your fucking face punk!

As a fan of some of the spicy / sweet bourbons I was anxious to uncork this puppy and see how it would compete.

The best thing about a dram of Tap 357 is the nose.

I swear it smells like a fresh plate of buttery flapjacks is wafting out of your Glencairn glass.

However, Tap 357 has a few limitations that you should know about up front. The distillers added some caramel coloring to enhance the look of the whisky which takes away from the taste. Also, the maple syrup flavor doesn’t come from it being aged in maple casks.

The syrup is added at the end of the maturation process and left in for an “additional period” of time which is unspecified.

Not all is lost though.

The end result is a whisky that is certainly drinkable but overly simple.

You’re just getting some harsh rye and maple syrup.

That’s it folks, the show is over.

At the end of the day, Tap 357 feels like a novelty act that gets a bit boring after a few sips.

On the bright side, the maple could add some interesting twist to some cocktails as a mixer.

They have a few recipes up on their website but I think with a little experimentation and some amaro / apertifs you can probably develop some better ones on your own.